The Historic Faust Street Bridge (New Braunfels), built in 1887, is an impressive Whipple Truss Bridge that towers high above the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels. It was constructed by the King Iron and Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio in 1887.
This monumental truss structure extends more than 640 feet in length across the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels. It was scorched in a fire more than 20 years ago, the magnificent structure now carries pedestrians and bicyclists, not vehicles.
Construction of the Bridge
The King Iron and Bridge Company of Cleveland, OH, constructed this beautiful bridge in 1887. The truss structure extends more than 640 feet in length across the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels. The bridge includes two, central 220-feet double-intersection Partt (or Whipple) through trusses – one for each side. The trusses are connected using a pin-and-hanger system commensurate with the common method of bridge building in the late 19th century. The spans are supported using huge over-shaped masonry piers with articulated stonework and lancet-shaped ends.
The Faust Street Bridge design is quite rare and represents a significant engineering accomplishment for its time. This bridge is one of a very small number of large, multiple-span truss bridges remaining in the USA. The Faust Street Bridge is the most complex and intact example of a Whipple truss roadway bridge in Texas. Six Whipple bridges remain in the state of Texas and this one is the only multiple-span example surviving at its original site.
The King Iron and Bridge Company
Zenas King founded the King Iron and Bridge Company in 1858 in Cleveland, OH. In 1871, King organized the company as a stock corporation with $225,000 in capital raised from Cleveland-area business people.
They played a critical role in the development and construction of metal truss bridges nationwide during the later part of the 19th Century.
King was responsible for several innovations in bridge design. He became renowned for his sales and marketing ability. By the 1880s, King Bridge and Manufacturing was the largest manufacturer of highway bridges in the United States.
History of the Bridge
The county built the Faust Street Bridge (New Braunfels) within feet of the Guadalupe River crossing of the Old San Antonio Road (or Camino Real). Prior to the completion of the bridge in 1887, travelers often had to wait long periods of time at this crossing until the waters were low enough to ford. The bridge served as a major crossing for all traffic between Austin to San Antonio from 1887 to 1934.
Comal County opened the bridge as a toll-free structure in late 1887. The Faust Street Bridge was one of the first permanent “no-toll” bridges completed over a major waterway in Texas. A majority of bridges constructed in this time were built by private-funding companies charging tolls to recover the cost of construction and maintenance expenses. Comal County’s $33,269 investment in the opening of the free bridge makes a statement about how prosperous and civic-minded its people were.
The Faust Street Bridge was designated to serve a part of State Hwy 2. The bridge supported highway travel between Dallas, Austin and San Antonio until 1934 when a new concrete arch highway bridge was built at the foot of San Antonio Street. It is one of the few early landmarks left standing along the Old San Antonio Road.
The bridge permanently closed to vehicle traffic due to fire damage experienced in 1978. The bridge reopened only for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Historical Markers
Wading and Enjoying the Water
Looking off the bridge provides a unique angle to take some pictures of people enjoying the river.
What’s the History of the Wittington’s Denim Company?
Wittington’s Denim Company is a location that appears in seasons 4 and 5 of AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead. AMC painted the name on the building for television purposes. The building was originally the old Mission Valley Cotton Mill. Built in the 1920s, the mill was one of the largest employers in the area for several decades. It closed for business in the early 2000s.
The mill is known for its denim and cotton textiles. Construction started 100 years ago and sits on the edge of the Guadalupe River.
Other Pictures
The bridge’s unique design, with Whipple truss types, and its wrought iron construction make the Faust Street Bridge (New Braunfels) among the most historic bridges in the state of Texas.
If you like this content, check out our posts on the Faust Hotel and Brew Company, Canyon Lake and Dam, Gruene Historical District, New Braunfels Farmer’s Market, New Braunfels Historic District, and other posts covering destinations in the New Braunfels and Texas Hill Country area. Check out this post on the Beautiful Pedernales Falls State Park and Lyndon B. Johnson’s National Park and Ranch in Johnson City, TX.
In addition, you will want to check out our Texas Hill Country videos on our YouTube Channel at Travel with D and E.
If you like this content, don’t hesitate to check out these other New Braunfels, TX articles, along with these YouTube videos covering the Texas Hill Country area.
Leave a Reply